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There's now a scientific explanation for why lonely women tend to eat more and give in to their food cravings.

UCLA Health researchers have uncovered compelling evidence linking loneliness to increased activation in women's brain regions associated with food cravings, particularly for high-calorie items such as sugary foods.

Led by Arpana Gupta, Ph.D., co-director of the UCLA Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center, the study aimed to uncover the negative repercussions of loneliness, particularly in the context of remote work environments post-COVID-19, and its impact on brain function, dietary behaviors, and psychological well-being.

While previous research has established correlations between obesity and mental health disorders, Gupta and her team sought to delve deeper into the neural pathways underlying these associations. The pioneering study, published in JAMA Network Open, sheds light on the intricate mechanisms through which loneliness influences eating habits and mental health outcomes.

Surveying a cohort of 93 women regarding their social support networks and feelings of loneliness, researchers categorized participants into two groups based on perceived social isolation levels. Those exhibiting higher levels of loneliness demonstrated a myriad of adverse health indicators, including increased fat mass, poorer diet quality, heightened cravings, and elevated levels of anxiety and depression.

Using MRI scans to monitor brain activity, researchers observed distinct patterns among lonely individuals when exposed to food stimuli. Women reporting higher levels of loneliness exhibited heightened activation in brain regions associated with craving sugary foods, coupled with decreased activity in regions linked to self-control over eating behaviors.

According to Gupta, the study findings are valuable since they depict the profound impact of loneliness on dietary preferences and mental well-being.

"When people are alone or lonely, it impacts more than how they are feeling; they under-report what they eat, their desire to eat, and their cravings, especially for unhealthy foods," Gupta stated, per Medical Xpress.

Lead author Xiaobei Zhang also pointed out the cyclical nature of unhealthy eating and negative mental symptoms, emphasizing the need for holistic interventions to disrupt this detrimental cycle. Suggestions include fostering social connections, practicing self-compassion and making healthier food choices as strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of loneliness on diet and mental health.

Gupta wants to explore additional biological markers, such as metabolites, microbiome composition and inflammatory signatures associated with loneliness, to gain a deeper understanding of the physiological underpinnings of social isolation's impact on health.